title: The recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from clinical specimens: effects of different temperatures, transport times, and media.
abstract: Factors influencing the recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from patients were studied. By comparison of the survival times of N. gonorrhoeae in Amies and modified Thayer-Martin media at different temperatures, it was found that the organism survived better at low temperature in the former medium, but at higher temperature on the latter. Even at 4 C, N. gonorrhoeae showed a loss of viability in Amies medium. Culture plates inoculated with cervical specimens can be kept in a CO2-enriched environment at high ambient temperature (approximately 24-30 C) for 18-24 hr before incubation with only a slight loss in isolation rate. Urine specimens are unsuitable for recovery of N. gonorrhoeae from female prostitutes, and urine specimens from male patients should not be kept overnight. Non-penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae isolates from prostitutes not only had fewer colonies on culture plates but also required more time for growth to be visible.
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media